Sultan of Pahang’s 67th Birthday

The Royal Family and the State of Pahang celebrated the 67th Birthday of Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah of Pahang at the Istana Abdulaziz in Kuantan on the 1st of August, the Sultan’s third Birthday Celebration following the end of his tenure as the XVI Yang Di-Pertuan Agong (King) of Malaysia last year.

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The Sultan of Pahang was joined by Tengku Ampuan (Queen) Azizah and Crown Prince Hassanal Ibrahim for the Investiture of State Honours and Medals in the temporary Throne Room of the Istana Abdulaziz in Kuantan.

A total of 52 individuals were awarded honors and medals at the Pahang Darul Makmur State Honors and Medals Conferring Ceremony in conjunction with the 67th Birthday Anniversary of His Majesty the Sultan of Pahang at Istana Abdulaziz, today, His Majesty the Sultan of Pahang departed for the Abdulaziz Palace at 10.30 am accompanied by Her Majesty the Tengku Ampuan of Pahang and His Majesty the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang.

Queen Azizah wore the Pahang State Tiara and its coordinating Necklace.

The Sultan gave a Speech in the temporary Throne Room of the Istana Abdulaziz in Kuantan.

His Majesty said that the youth are the assets and heirs of the state who will determine the rise and fall of the nation in the future.

According to His Majesty, the younger generation should fill their years by seeking knowledge, building their character and contributing to the development of the state, instead of using the roads as a platform to seek popularity through illegal racing.

His Majesty also expressed regret that this dangerous culture was celebrated on social media, prompting more young people to imitate the act in order to gain attention.

“Courage is not measured by the speed of a motorcycle, but by the strength to subdue desires and the courage to say no to evil. True young people are not those who bravely challenge death, but those who dare to build the future with knowledge, morals, discipline and continuous effort,” said His Majesty.

His Majesty also expressed his appreciation to the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), the Road Transport Department (JPJ), local authorities and all enforcement agencies for their continued commitment to combating the phenomenon of mat rempit and illegal racing.

However, His Majesty believes that these efforts need to be strengthened through a more comprehensive and integrated approach involving law enforcement, education, family institutions and community support.

His Majesty stressed that any laxity in enforcement will ultimately be paid for with the lives of young people who become victims of this unhealthy culture.

“Let us join hands to build a strong fortress through strict enforcement, continuous education, a strong family institution and a society that dares to reprimand. We must not only wake up when the ambulance sirens echo, handcuffs begin to be applied or finally the talkin is read in the cemetery,” said His Majesty.

His Majesty called on all parties, including parents, educators, the community and relevant agencies, to play their respective roles in guiding the young generation to become knowledgeable, moral and integrity-based heirs to the state in order to ensure a more brilliant future for Pahang

According to His Majesty’s words, the environment is not just a national treasure, but rather a trust from Allah SWT which is the lifeblood of life, a stronghold of natural balance and a priceless heritage that needs to be preserved.

His Majesty said that development efforts should not be carried out to the point of causing environmental destruction because today’s generation has a responsibility to ensure that these treasures continue to be enjoyed by future generations.

“Nature is not a treasure, but a trust. Indeed, forests are not just a treasure of the state of Pahang, but a trust from Allah SWT which is the lifeblood, a stronghold of natural balance and a priceless legacy for future generations,” said His Majesty.

His Majesty said that the inherited nature should not be wasted arbitrarily, but rather should be preserved responsibly.

According to His Majesty, the Pahang state government continues to adhere to the principle that development cannot be built on environmental destruction.

To date, more than 1.59 million hectares or 44 percent of the area of Pahang state remains as Permanent Forest Reserves, in addition to new areas being gazetted to strengthen conservation efforts.

His Majesty also expressed his appreciation for the state government’s commitment in setting a policy that every Permanent Forest Reserve area that is degazetted for public or economic development purposes must be replaced with another forest area of equal or greater value.

According to His Majesty’s decree, the principle reflects the state government’s commitment that every inch of natural resources used for the development of the people will not be left to disappear without being replaced.

His Majesty said that efforts to defend forests are much more difficult than cutting them down because the restoration process takes a long time.

“The truth is, defending forests is much harder than cutting them down. Replanting a tree takes decades, but cutting it down only takes a few minutes.”

His Majesty also said that the state government is willing to sacrifice some of its revenue opportunities to ensure that natural treasures continue to be preserved for the benefit of the people, the country and the world.

According to His Majesty, environmental conservation efforts are not a small responsibility because Pahang has made great sacrifices by maintaining vast forest areas which also benefit the entire country.

In this regard, His Majesty believes that conservation efforts should continue to receive fairer support from the Federal Government through the Ecological Fiscal Transfer (EFT) mechanism, including appropriate financial allocations.

His Majesty said that the benefits from Pahang’s forest treasures are not only enjoyed by the people of this state, but also serve as an environmental bulwark for the entire country.

“Let us not be the generation that inherits magnificent buildings, but leaves behind polluted rivers, crumbling hills and forests that only remain in the folds of history. Real progress is not when we succeed in conquering nature, but when we succeed in preserving it,”